Hey everyone,

I recently purchased a used canoe and am about to start decking it out for a trip in Spring of 2022. One thing I am looking for is material to make rod tubes to protect multiple spinning rods during portaging as well as when loading/unloading large portage packs. I know I can buy a travel rod tube and cut it down - but I was hoping to find something cheaper and lighter weight.

Does anyone know of a thin walled 4" tubing material that could be cut to fit? The closest I've come is drain pipe from HD or Lowes or dust collection tubing from a wood working store - but both are still heavier than I envision.

Thanks in advance for any thoughts/advice.

PMR

I was having the same problem a few weeks ago before our trip. I ended up just buying a dozen BDB's and they got the job done, held four rod reel combos in the canoe through a couple 150+ rod portages with no damage. We did talk to a guy who modified some foam pool noodles and that seemed to work for him- although they looked to be a bit bulky in the canoe. I recommend leaving the expensive stuff at home and check out bdbcanoe.com

We use bungees, but I've always worried. Maybe something like this?

Clear Plastic Tubes

Thanks fellas. In the past I have relied on BDBs, and they are really nice, for all sorts of things - I own about 20. I might go that route, still, but I want to entertain the tube. Give it a fair shot, anyway.

Thanks for the link Chuckles - those tubes look great and are fairly cheap. I need to get out some calipers and figure out which thickness would be best as they offer several.

I'll be sure to follow up with a picture of whatever I decide on.

PMR

I'll be interested in what you come up with. I have used bungee's for years, they have been serviceable until this year. I broke the tip off my Fenwick while pulling a pack out at a portage this spring (Fenwick has an amazing warranty by the way). I've seen people use PVC, plastic down spout material, and full on rod lockers. None of which have been what I'm searching for. I have been intrigued by the clear tubing that chuckles mentioned. It can be found at HD or Lowes, I believe it is for florescent light bulbs?

I used gutter downspouts for holding my rods. I made end caps out of scrap wood and used two screws to hold the caps on. The whole thing is light as a feather but strong.

Hmmm...yeah...the plastic downspouts are pretty lightweight. I'll look in to that for sure, thanks.

Check out US Plastic. They have various plastic tubes. I’ve used the tenite butyrate tubing for travel rod tubes (1/16 inch wall) when hiking the JMT and fishing for trout in alpine lakes. Worked great and much lighter weight compared to typical fly rod tubes. They also have the orange tube caps.

US Plastic

BassmasterP: "Hmmm...yeah...the plastic downspouts are pretty lightweight. I'll look in to that for sure, thanks."

Aluminum may be lighter. Just bought 2 - 10' pieces (for downspouts, not rods. :) )

I used 2.25" x 3" vinyl downspout and fittings, along with some wooden plugs. It holds two rods.

I tapered the plugs to match the slight taper that is inside the fittings. The permanent plug is held in place with four small brad nails. The removable plug pulls out with the keeper cord. It's a tight fit, so it doesn't need a screw or anything to hold it in place (though I would add one if I were to ship it, or check it as baggage on an airplane).

I like the downspout ideas. I'm going to look in to that option as well as individual 2.25" plastic tubes (like bass boat rod lockers use). I like this idea mostly because spinning rods get caught on each other - especially if rigged. I'm thinking 2 tubes per side would hold 4 rods and, if fused together side-by-side and mounted to the thwarts, allow for a casting rod or fly rod to sit on top of the 2 tubes.

I'll figure something out in the coming weeks and post my final project.

P

We have rigged a velcro system to hold 2-4 disassembled rods on the side of the boat a bit below the gunwales. They are tucked in enough that they are out of the way of the packs, and also not in the way of portaging. No extra things to carry that way.

Believe me, I like the idea of using bungees or Velcro as that's what I've been doing for years now. But last trip one of my best spinning rods got the lowest eyelet ripped off by a passing tree because it rotated and was just BARELY hanging over the gunwale on a brutally long and uneven portage (Lil Darky to Brent).

We fish pretty much nonstop and each canoe carries 4 to 6 rods. Rod are ALWAYS out when we reach a portage - and we portage several times a day. Having something safe and secure to quickly slip rods into for maximum protection would be ideal.

Thanks for the feedback everyone.

If anyone has constructed something worthy, I'd love to see pics. Plastic downspout seems the best solution thus far - loved that idea, and the pictures shared.

I could see myself mounting a piece of vinyl gutter, maybe two, to protect rods. The one key adjustment I would have to make is a way to let the reels stay on. I think the best solution would be a bungee strap on the end that could go around the reel and hold it in, with the handles sticking out, so the rods don't fall out on portages.

We usually bring 2 rods each, and assuming that the gutter works best with only 2 rods, it would take 2 gutters per canoe. I think I would put them at a downward angle and make each accessible from one seat. That way it would be easy to grab your own rod and put it back away quickly. Maybe I could even find a way to put in dividers down the middle so I could even leave the lure on without snagging the other rod.

My thoughts, exactly.

I considered installing 2 small lengths of elastic cord through holes on the end that could be pulled over the backside of the reel(s) to hold them in on portages.

And, considering that the downspout material has a lengthwise ribbed texture, I might be able to cut a long piece of plastic to run down the center. Could be held in part by the ribbed tube and also by a few slits cut in the tubing paired with tabs left in the plastic divider.

Thanks for responding. Great ideas!

2 dividers and I could accommodate 2 spinning rods plus one baitcaster. We almost always have 1 baitcaster per boat specifically for targeting big pike.

PMR

I use the vinyl downspout tube but I don't make a full "rod tube". I like to have quicker access to my rods while traveling. I only use a couple feet worth to protect the tips.....but you could make it longer. BDB the butt ends with reels under a thwart after inserting rod tip into tube. The velcro lure guards prevent snagging packs. Get creative with zip ties to attach tube to seat and thwart. Make them whatever length you want.

Simpler is often better - I'll consider the same - minimal tubage trumps max.
One of those canoe looks like my 17' Northwind that I'll be mounting my rod tube in.
PMR

Here's 2 other pics.....older models before I switched to the vinyl downspout. Gives a better view of set up. And, yes, the one canoe was a NW 17.

Excellent. Thanks for the additional pics.

Another vote for aluminum/vinyl downspout set up. Mine is aluminum, but no matter. Can custom cut to length, and the square set up stays lashed to the thwarts better than round ones, IMO. I used to use carboard mailer tubes, that I completely wrapped with clear packing tape to water proof. Those worked really well for many trips, cheap and tough. I still have a big one, that I mail to outfitter chosen pre trip, if I am going to fly to get to the BW.

cowdoc, I like your setup, but the problem I run into is the heavy packs being taken in and out of the canoe. My buddy and I are always worried that the packs would damage the rods so we are always taking the rods out first and putting them in last.

I like the full length rod holder idea better because it would be easier to leave the rods attached to the canoe and eliminate a lot of messing around to secure and remove them when unloading and reloading the canoe. This is the biggest reason that we just say "screw it" and just carry them by hand.

Agree with your point. I've learned to deal with it. You have to be a little careful. I've played with the full length tube idea.....and maybe a hot air gun to bend tube slightly to match the curve of canoe sidewall. The rods will bend a little to fit. It's always a work in progress from year to year. It seems that even when carrying rods by hand somebody snags a bush or limb so that is not foolproof either.